Vertical memory devices and methods of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A vertical memory device includes insulating interlayer patterns, of gate electrodes, a channel, and a charge storage pattern structure. The insulating interlayer patterns are spaced in a first direction. The gate electrodes between are neighboring insulating interlayer patterns, respectively. The channel extends through the insulating interlayer patterns and the gate electrodes in the first direction. The charge storage pattern structure includes a tunnel insulation pattern, a charge trapping pattern structure, and a blocking pattern sequentially stacked between the channel and each of the gate electrodes in a second direction. The charge trapping pattern structure includes charge trapping patterns spaced in the first direction. The charge trapping patterns are adjacent to sidewalls of first gate electrodes, respectively. A first charge trapping pattern extends in the first direction along a sidewall of a first insulating interlayer pattern.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0010401, filed on Jan. 28, 2016,and entitled, “Vertical Memory Devices and Methods of Manufacturing theSame,” is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

One or more embodiments described herein relate to vertical memorydevices and methods of manufacturing vertical memory devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Producing highly integrated semiconductor devices continues to be a goalof designers. One way to increase integration is to increase the numberof layers stacked in a vertical memory device, while at the same timereduce the thicknesses of those layers. However, reducing layerthickness may deteriorate the characteristics of the memory device, forexample, due to coupling that may occur between neighboring, verticallyarranged memory cells.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a vertical memory deviceincludes a plurality of insulating interlayer patterns on a substrate,the plurality of insulating interlayer patterns spaced apart from eachother in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surfaceof the substrate; a plurality of gate electrodes between neighboringones of the insulating interlayer patterns, respectively; a channelextending through the insulating interlayer patterns and the gateelectrodes in the first direction on the substrate; and a charge storagepattern structure including a tunnel insulation pattern, a chargetrapping pattern structure, and a blocking pattern sequentially stackedbetween the channel and each of the gate electrodes in a seconddirection substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate,wherein the charge trapping pattern structure includes a plurality ofcharge trapping patterns spaced apart from each other in the firstdirection, wherein the charge trapping patterns are adjacent tosidewalls of first gate electrodes, respectively, in the plurality ofgate electrodes, and wherein a first charge trapping pattern of theplurality of charge trapping patterns extends in the first directionalong a sidewall of a first insulating interlayer pattern of theplurality of insulating interlayer patterns.

In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a vertical memorydevice includes a plurality of gate electrodes on a substrate, theplurality of gate electrodes spaced apart from each other in a firstdirection substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate;a plurality of insulating interlayer patterns between neighboring onesof the gate electrodes, respectively; a channel extending through thegate electrodes and the insulating interlayer patterns in the firstdirection on the substrate; a charge storage pattern structure includinga tunnel insulation pattern, a charge trapping pattern, and a blockingpattern sequentially stacked between the channel and each of the gateelectrodes in a second direction substantially parallel to the topsurface of the substrate; and an insulation pattern structure betweenthe channel and a sidewall of each of the insulating interlayerpatterns, the insulation pattern structure including a first insulationpattern, a second insulation pattern, and a third insulation patternsequentially stacked in the second direction and disposed only onportions of a top and a bottom of each of the gate electrodes adjacentto the channel.

In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a vertical memorydevice includes a channel on a substrate, the channel extending in afirst direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of thesubstrate; a plurality of gate electrodes spaced apart from each otherin the first direction on the substrate, each of the plurality of gateelectrodes covering an outer sidewall of the channel; and an insulationpattern structure between the outer sidewall of the channel and the gateelectrodes and between the gate electrodes in the first direction, theinsulation pattern structure including a charge trapping patternstructure, wherein the charge trapping pattern structure includes: aplurality of first charge trapping patterns spaced apart from each otherin the first direction, a distance between each of the first chargetrapping patterns and a center of the channel in a second directionbeing substantially constant in the first direction; and a second chargetrapping pattern, a distance between the second charge trapping patternand the center of the channel in the second direction varies in thefirst direction.

In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a method ofmanufacturing a vertical memory device includes alternately forminginsulating interlayers and sacrificial layers on a substrate; forming achannel hole through the insulating interlayers and the sacrificiallayers to expose a top surface of the substrate; partially removingportions of the insulating interlayers exposed by the channel hole toform first and second recesses in communication with the channel hole,the first recess having a first width in a first direction substantiallyperpendicular to the top surface of the substrate and the second recesshaving a second width in the first direction greater than the firstwidth; sequentially forming a blocking layer and a charge trapping layeron a sidewall of the channel hole and inner walls of the first andsecond recesses, third and fourth recesses formed on the charge trappinglayer correspondingly to the first and second recesses, respectively,the first width equal to or less than twice a sum of a thickness of theblocking layer and a thickness of the charge trapping layer; removing aportion of the charge trapping layer adjacent to the third recess toform a plurality of charge trapping patterns spaced apart from eachother in the first direction, the third recess enlarged to expose aportion of the blocking layer; forming a filling pattern to fill theenlarged third recess; and sequentially forming a tunnel insulationlayer and a channel on the charge trapping patterns and the fillingpattern.

In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a method ofmanufacturing a vertical memory device includes alternately forminginsulating interlayers and sacrificial layers on a substrate; forming achannel hole through the insulating interlayers and the sacrificiallayers to expose a top surface of the substrate; partially removingportions of the insulating interlayers exposed by the channel hole toform first recesses in communication with the channel hole; sequentiallyforming a blocking layer and a charge trapping layer on a sidewall ofthe channel hole and inner walls of the first recesses, second recessesformed on the charge trapping layer correspondingly to the firstrecesses, respectively; forming doped silicon patterns to fill remainingportions of the second recesses, respectively; forming a silicon layeron the charge trapping layer and the doped silicon patterns; performinga heat treatment process such that a portion of the silicon layeradjacent to each of the doped silicon patterns is doped with impurities;removing the doped portion of the silicon layer and the doped siliconpatterns to form openings each exposing a portion of the charge trappinglayer; removing the exposed portion of the charge trapping layer to forma plurality of charge trapping patterns spaced apart from each other ina first direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of thesubstrate; removing the remaining silicon layer to expose the chargetrapping patterns; forming filling patterns in the openings,respectively; and forming a channel on the exposed charge trappingpatterns and the filling patterns.

In accordance with one or more other embodiments, a vertical memorydevice includes a channel; an alternating pattern of gate electrodes andinsulating layers; a charge storage pattern between the channel andsides of the gate electrodes and insulating layers, wherein the gateelectrodes have a first width and a first thickness and the insulatinglayers have a second width less than the first width and a secondthickness less than the first thickness and wherein the charge storagepattern extends into recesses adjacent to the sides of respective onesof the insulating layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describingin detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawingsin which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment of a vertical memory device;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical memory device;

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical memory device;

FIGS. 5 to 29 illustrate various stages of an embodiment of a method formanufacturing the vertical memory device in one or more of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 30 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical memory device;

FIGS. 31 to 33 illustrate various stages of an embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing the vertical memory device in FIG. 30;

FIG. 34 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical memory device;

FIGS. 35 to 36 illustrate various stages of an embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing the vertical memory device in FIG. 34;

FIGS. 37 and 38 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical memorydevice; and

FIGS. 39 to 42 illustrate various stages of an embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing the vertical memory device in FIGS. 37 and 38.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a vertical memory device, and FIG. 2illustrates a view taken along section line A-A′ in FIG. 1. For purposesof illustration, a direction substantially perpendicular to a topsurface of a substrate is defined as a first direction, and twodirections substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrateand crossing each other are defined as second and third directions,respectively. In example embodiments, the second and third directionsmay be substantially perpendicular to each other. Throughout the presentdisclosure, the first, second and third directions are as defined aboveand as shown in the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the vertical memory device may include aplurality of insulating interlayer patterns 115, a plurality of gateelectrodes 363, 365 and 367, a channel 270, a charge storage patternstructure, and first filling patterns 232 on a substrate 100. Thevertical memory device may further include a first semiconductor pattern150, a second filling pattern 280, a capping pattern 290, a secondblocking layer 330, a second spacer 370, a common source line (CSL) 380,first and second masks 130 and 300, first and second upper insulatinginterlayers 390 and 410, a contact plug 400, and a bit line 420.

The insulating interlayer patterns 115 may be at a plurality of levels,respectively, in the first direction and spaced apart from each other.The insulating interlayer patterns 115 may have different thicknesses inthe first direction according to the respective levels thereof. Forexample, a lowermost one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 froma top surface of the substrate 100 may have a fourth thickness T4, asecond one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 from the topsurface of the substrate 100 may have a third thickness T3, an uppermostone of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 from the top surface ofthe substrate 100 may have a second thickness T2, and other intermediateones of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 from the top surface ofthe substrate 100 may have a first thickness T1. In example embodiments,the fourth thickness T4 may be less than the first to third thicknessesT1, T2 and T3, the first thickness T1 may be less than the second andthird thicknesses T2 and T3, and the second and third thicknesses T2 andT3 may be equal to or different from each other.

In another embodiment, the lowermost one of the insulating interlayerpatterns 115 from the top surface of the substrate 100 may have thefourth thickness T4, a third one of the insulating interlayer patterns115 from the top surface of the substrate 100 may have the thirdthickness T3, the uppermost one of the insulating interlayer patterns115 from the top surface of the substrate 100 may have the secondthickness T2, and the second one and other intermediate ones of theinsulating interlayer patterns 115 from the top surface of the substrate100 may have the first thickness T1.

The insulating interlayer patterns 115 may include an oxide, e.g.,silicon oxide.

The gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367 may be at a plurality of levels,respectively, along the first direction on the substrate 100 and spacedapart from each other. The insulating interlayer pattern 115 may bebetween neighboring ones of the gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367stacked along the first direction. The insulating interlayer patterns115 and the gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367 may be alternately stackedin the first direction. Each of the gate electrodes 363, 365 and 367 mayextend in the second direction. A plurality of gate electrodes 363, aplurality of gate electrodes 365, and a plurality of gate electrodes 367may be formed in the third direction at the respective levels thereof.The gate electrodes 363, the gate electrodes 365, and the gateelectrodes 367 may be separated by the CSL 380 and the second spacer 370in a second opening 310.

The gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367 may include a first gate electrode363, a second gate electrode 365, and a third gate electrode 367sequentially stacked in the first direction. The first gate electrode363 may serve as a ground selection line (GSL), the second gateelectrode 365 may serve as a word line, and the third gate electrode 367may serve as a string selection line (SSL). Each of the first, second,and third gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367 may be at one level or at aplurality of levels. One or more than one dummy word lines may be formedbetween the first and second gate electrodes 363 and 365 and/or betweenthe second and third gate electrodes 365 and 367.

In example embodiments, the first gate electrode 363 may be formed underthe one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 having the thirdthickness T3. The second and third gate electrodes 365 and 367 may be onthe one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 having the thirdthickness T3. In an example embodiment, the first gate electrode 363 maybe at a lowermost level from the top surface of the substrate 100, thethird gate electrode 367 may be at an uppermost level and a closestlevel to the uppermost level thereunder from the top surface of thesubstrate 100, and the second gate electrode 365 may be at even numbersof levels between the first and third gate electrodes 363 and 367. Inone embodiment, the first gate electrode 363 may be at the lowermostlevel and a closest level to the lowermost level thereover.

The first gate electrode 363 may be close to the first semiconductorpattern 150 in a horizontal direction. Each of the second and third gateelectrodes 365 and 367 may be close to the channel 270 on the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 in the horizontal direction.

The first gate electrode 363 may include a first gate conductive pattern353, and a first gate barrier pattern 343 covering a top, a bottom, anda sidewall of the first gate conductive pattern 353. The second gateelectrode 365 may include a second gate conductive pattern 355, and asecond gate barrier pattern 345 covering a top, a bottom, and a sidewallof the second gate conductive pattern 355. The third gate electrode 367may include a third gate conductive pattern 357, and a third gatebarrier pattern 347 covering a top, a bottom, and a sidewall of thethird gate conductive pattern 357. Each of the first to third gatebarrier patterns 343, 345, and 347 may cover a sidewall of each of thefirst to third gate conductive patterns 353, 355, and 357 close to thechannel 270.

Each of the first to third gate conductive patterns 353, 355, and 357may include a metal having a low electrical resistance, e.g., tungsten,titanium, tantalum, platinum, etc. Each of the first to third gatebarrier patterns 343, 345, and 347 may include a metal nitride, e.g.,titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, etc. In one embodiment, each of thefirst to third gate barrier patterns 343, 345, and 347 may have a firstpattern including a metal and a second pattern including a metalnitride.

A top, a bottom, and a sidewall of each of the first to third gateelectrodes 363, 365, and 367 may be covered by the second blocking layer330. The second blocking layer 330 may further cover sidewalls of theinsulating interlayer patterns 115, sidewalls of the first and secondmasks 130 and 300, and a portion of a top surface of the substrate 100,and may extend in the first direction with an uneven surface.

The second blocking layer 330 may include a metal oxide, e.g., aluminumoxide, hafnium oxide, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum aluminum oxide,lanthanum hafnium oxide, hafnium aluminum oxide, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, zirconium oxide, etc.

The channel 270 may extend in the first direction on the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 on the substrate 100, and may extend throughthe insulating interlayer patterns 115 and the second and third gateelectrodes 365 and 367.

The first semiconductor pattern 150 may be formed by a selectiveepitaxial growth (SEG) process using the top surface of the substrate100 as a seed, and thus may include a material substantially the same asthat of the substrate 100. The first semiconductor pattern 150 mayinclude, e.g., single crystalline silicon or single crystallinegermanium, and may be doped with impurities.

The first semiconductor pattern 150 may have a shape of a cylinder, anelliptic cylinder, or a pillar. In example embodiments, the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 may be formed such that an upper surface ofthe first semiconductor pattern 150 may be between a top and a bottom ofthe one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 having the thirdthickness T3. Thus, in an example embodiment, the first semiconductorpattern 150 may be formed such that the upper surface of the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 may be between a top and a bottom of thesecond one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 from the topsurface of the substrate 100. In one embodiment, the first semiconductorpattern 150 may be formed such that the upper surface of the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 may be between a top and a bottom of a thirdone of insulating interlayer patterns 115 from the top surface ofsubstrate 100.

The channel 270 may extend through ones of the insulating interlayerpatterns 115 on the first gate electrode 363, and the second and thirdgate electrodes 365 and 367. The channel 270 may include polysilicondoped with impurities or undoped polysilicon, or single crystallinesilicon. In example embodiments, the channel 270 may have a cup-likeshape. An inner space of the channel 270 having the cup-like shape maybe filled with the second filling pattern 280 having a pillar shape. Inone embodiment, the channel 270 may have a shape of a cylinder, anelliptic cylinder, a rectangular column, or a pillar, and in this case,the second filling pattern 280 may not be formed. The second fillingpattern 280 may include an oxide, e.g., silicon oxide.

A plurality of channels 270 may be formed in the second and thirddirections to form a channel array. In example embodiments, the channelarray may include a first channel column 270 a having a plurality offirst channels in the second direction, and a second channel column 270b having a plurality of second channels in the second direction andspaced apart from the first channel column in the third direction. Thefirst and second channels may form an acute angle with the seconddirection and/or the third direction. Thus, the first and secondchannels may be in a zigzag layout with respect to the second direction.When the first and second channels are in a zigzag layout, a greaternumber of channels 270 may be formed per area.

The first and second channel columns 270 a and 270 b may be alternatelyand repeatedly disposed in the third direction. In example embodiments,the first and second channel columns 270 may be in the third directiontwice to form a channel block, and a plurality of channel blocks may bein the third direction to be spaced apart from each other. Four channelcolumns in the third direction in each channel block may be referred toas first, second, third, and fourth channel columns 270 a, 270 b, 270 c,and 270 d, respectively, in this order. For example, FIG. 1 shows twochannel blocks spaced apart from each other in the third direction andportions of other two channel blocks. Each channel block includes thefirst, second, third, and fourth channel columns 270 a, 270 b, 270 c,and 270 d in the third direction.

The charge storage pattern structure may have a cup-like shape having anopen central bottom. The charge storage pattern structure may extend inthe first direction and may surround an outer sidewall of the channel270. The charge storage pattern structure may include a tunnelinsulation pattern 245, a charge trapping pattern structure, and a firstblocking pattern 175 sequentially stacked between the outer sidewall ofthe channel 270 and each of the second and third gate electrodes 365 and367.

The tunnel insulation pattern 245 may directly contact the outersidewall of the channel 270 and may extend in the first direction. Thetunnel insulation pattern 245 may have a cup-like shape having an opencentral bottom portion. In example embodiments, the tunnel insulationpattern 245 may have a thickness in the horizontal direction that may beconstant along the first direction. The tunnel insulation pattern 245may include an oxide, e.g., silicon oxide.

The charge trapping pattern structure may directly contact an outersidewall of the tunnel insulation pattern 245, and may include first,second, and third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 spacedapart from each other in the first direction. The first to third chargetrapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 may include substantially the samematerial, e.g., a nitride such as silicon nitride.

A plurality of first charge trapping patterns 182 may be spaced apartfrom each other in the first direction. Each of the first chargetrapping patterns 182 may be close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall ofthe second gate electrode 365 or the sidewall of the third gateelectrode 367 in the horizontal direction. In example embodiments, thedistance between the first charge trapping pattern 182 and a center ofthe channel 270 in the horizontal direction may be constant along thefirst direction.

The second charge trapping pattern 184 may be close (e.g., adjacent) tothe sidewall of the third gate electrode 367 at the uppermost level inthe horizontal direction, and may further extend in the first directionto be close (e.g., adjacent) to a sidewall of the uppermost one of theinsulating interlayer patterns 115. In example embodiments, the distancebetween the second charge trapping pattern 184 and a center of thechannel 270 in the horizontal direction may vary in the first direction.The distance between a portion of the second charge trapping pattern 184close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of the third gate electrode 367at the uppermost level and the center of the channel 270 in thehorizontal direction may be less than a distance between a portion ofthe second charge trapping pattern 184 close (e.g., adjacent) to thesidewall of the uppermost one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115and the center of the channel 270 in the horizontal direction.

The third charge trapping pattern 186 may be close (e.g., adjacent) tothe sidewall of the second gate electrode 365, in the horizontaldirection, at the second level from the top surface of the substrate100, and may further extend in the first direction to be close (e.g.,adjacent) to a sidewall of the second one of the insulating interlayerpatterns 115 from the top surface of the substrate 100. In exampleembodiments, the distance between the third charge trapping pattern 186and a center of the channel 270 in the horizontal direction may vary inthe first direction. The distance between a portion of the third chargetrapping pattern 186 close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of thesecond gate electrode 367 at the second level and the center of thechannel 270 in the horizontal direction may be less than the distancebetween a portion of the third charge trapping pattern 186 close (e.g.,adjacent) to the sidewall of the second one of the insulating interlayerpatterns 115 and the center of the channel 270 in the horizontaldirection.

In example embodiments, each of the first to third charge trappingpatterns 182, 184, and 186 may have a sixth thickness T6 in thehorizontal direction, which may be constant in the first direction.

The first filling patterns 232 may be between neighboring ones of thefirst to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 in the firstdirection. The first filling patterns 232 may include an oxide, e.g.,silicon oxide.

Each of the first filling patterns 232 may be close (e.g., adjacent) to,in the horizontal direction, a sidewall of each of the insulatinginterlayer patterns 115 having the first thickness T1. In exampleembodiments, each of the first filling patterns 232 may include a lowerportion, a central portion, and an upper portion sequentially stacked inthe first direction. The central portion may have a thickness in thehorizontal direction greater than those of the lower and upper portions.The lower and upper portions of each of the first filling patterns 232may contact top surfaces and bottom surfaces of the first to thirdcharge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186. The central portion of eachof the first filling patterns 232 may be covered by the first blockingpattern 175.

In example embodiments, a distance between each of the first fillingpatterns 232 and a center of the channel 270 in the horizontal directionmay be greater than that between each of the first to third chargetrapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 and the center of the channel 270 inthe horizontal direction.

The first blocking pattern 175 may directly contact outer sidewalls ofthe first to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 and outersidewalls of the first filling patterns 232, and may extend in the firstdirection. The first blocking pattern 175 may have a cup-like shapehaving an open central bottom portion. In example embodiments, the firstblocking pattern 175 may have a fifth thickness T5 in the horizontaldirection, which may be constant in the first direction. The firstblocking pattern 175 may include an oxide, e.g., silicon oxide.

In example embodiments, the first blocking pattern 175 may cover asidewall and portions of upper and lower surfaces of each of the secondand third gate electrodes 365 and 367, and may directly contact thesidewalls of the insulating interlayer patterns 115. For example, thefirst blocking pattern 175 may cover a sidewall of each of the secondand third gate electrodes 365 and 367 close (e.g., adjacent) to thechannel 270, and portions of upper and lower surfaces of each of thesecond and third gate electrodes 365 and 367 close (e.g., adjacent) tothe channel 270.

In example embodiments, the tunnel insulation pattern 245, the secondcharge trapping pattern 184, the first blocking pattern 175, and thesecond blocking layer 330 sequentially stacked in the horizontaldirection may be between the channel 270 and the third gate electrode367 the uppermost level. The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the thirdcharge trapping pattern 186, the first blocking pattern 175, and thesecond blocking layer 330 sequentially stacked in the horizontaldirection may be between the channel 270 and the second gate electrode365 at the second level. The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the firstcharge trapping pattern 182, the first blocking pattern 175, and thesecond blocking layer 330 sequentially stacked in the horizontaldirection may be between the channel 270 and each of the second gateelectrodes 367 at other levels, respectively.

The first to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 close(e.g., adjacent) to the sidewalls of the second and third gateelectrodes 365 and 367 may be spaced apart from each other in the firstdirection. Thus, parasitic capacitance between the second and third gateelectrodes 365 and 367 may decrease. Also, movement of charges among thefirst to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 may be reducedor prevented.

The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the second charge trapping pattern184, and the first blocking pattern 175, which are sequentially stackedin the horizontal direction, may be between the channel 270 and theuppermost one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 having thesecond thickness T2. The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the third chargetrapping pattern 186, and the first blocking pattern 175, which aresequentially stacked in the horizontal direction, may be between thechannel 270 and the second one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115having the third thickness T3. The tunnel insulation pattern 245, thefirst filling pattern 232, and the first blocking pattern 175, which aresequentially stacked in the horizontal direction, may be between thechannel 270 and each of the intermediate ones of the insulatinginterlayer patterns 115 having the first thickness T1.

In example embodiments, each of the first to third thicknesses T1, 12,and T3 of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 may be greater than asum of twice the fifth thickness T5 of the first blocking pattern 175and the sixth thickness T6 of the charge trapping pattern structure.

In example embodiments, the first thickness T1 of ones of the insulatinginterlayer patterns 115 may be equal to or less than twice a sum of thefifth thickness T5 of the first blocking pattern 175 and the sixththickness T6 of the charge trapping pattern structure. Thus, each of theinsulating interlayer patterns 115 having the first thickness T1 mayhave a thin thickness, so that the vertical memory device may have areduced thickness.

The second thickness T2 or the third thickness T3 of one of theinsulating interlayer patterns 115 may be greater than the sum of twicethe fifth thickness T5 of the first blocking pattern 175 and the sixththickness T6 of the charge trapping pattern structure, and may begreater than twice the sum of the fifth thickness T5 and the sixththickness T6.

The first mask 130 may be on a first structure including the secondfilling pattern 280, the channel 270, the charge storage patternstructure, and the first filling pattern 232, and on the uppermost oneof the insulating interlayer patterns 115. The capping pattern 290 mayextend through the first mask 130 and contact an upper surface of thefirst structure. The capping pattern 290 may include polysilicon dopedwith impurities or undoped polysilicon, or single crystalline silicon.

The second mask 300 may be on the first mask 130 and the capping pattern290.

The second spacer 370 may be on a sidewall of the second opening 310that extends through the insulating interlayer patterns 115 and the gateelectrodes 363, 365 and 367 and may expose the top surface of thesubstrate 100. The second opening 310 may extend in the seconddirection. The CSL 380 may fill the remaining portion of the secondopening 310. The second spacer 370 may include an oxide, e.g., siliconoxide, and the CSL 380 may include, e.g., a metal, a metal nitrideand/or a metal silicide.

The first upper insulating interlayer 390 may be on the second mask 300,the CSL 380, the second spacer 370, and the second blocking layer 330.The contact plug 400 may extend through the second mask 300 and thefirst upper insulating interlayer 390 and may contact an upper surfaceof the capping pattern 290. The second upper insulating interlayer 410may be on the first upper insulating interlayer 390 and the contact plug400. The bit line 420 may extend through the second upper insulatinginterlayer 410 and may contact an upper surface of the contact plug 400.In example embodiments, the bit line 420 may extend in the thirddirection and a plurality of bit lines 420 may be in the seconddirection.

The first and second upper insulating interlayers 390 and 410 mayinclude an oxide, e.g., silicon oxide. The contact plug 400 and the bitline 420 may include a metal, e.g., copper, aluminum, tungsten,titanium, tantalum, etc., and/or a metal nitride, e.g., titaniumnitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten nitride, etc.

As previously indicated, the vertical memory device may include thefirst to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 spaced apartfrom each other in the first direction. Thus, parasitic capacitancebetween the second and third gate electrodes 365 and 367 may decrease.The first thickness T1 of ones of the insulating interlayer patterns 115between the second and third gate electrodes 365 and 367 may be equal toor less than twice the sum of the fifth thickness T5 of the firstblocking pattern 175 and the sixth thickness T1 of the first chargetrapping pattern 182. Thus, the vertical memory device including theinsulating interlayer patterns 115 may have a reduced thickness.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical memory device whichmay include an air gap 235 in the first filling pattern 232.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical memory device whichmay include an insulation pattern structure 450 having the chargetrapping pattern structure therein. For example, the insulatinginterlayer pattern 115, the tunnel insulation pattern 245, and the firstblocking pattern 175 in the charge storage pattern structure and thefirst filling pattern 232 in FIG. 2 may include substantially the samematerial (e.g., silicon oxide), and thus may be merged to forminsulation pattern structure 450.

As a result, the vertical memory device may include the insulationpattern structure 450 between the outer sidewall of the channel 270 andeach of the gate electrodes 363, 365 and 367, and between the gateelectrodes 363, 365 and 367 spaced apart from each other in the firstdirection, which may contain the charge trapping pattern structuretherein. The charge trapping pattern structure may include the firstcharge trapping patterns 182 and the second and third charge trappingpatterns 184 and 186. The first charge trapping patterns 182 are spacedapart from each other in the first direction, and may have the distancein the horizontal direction from the center of the channel 270 constantalong the first direction. The second and third charge trapping patterns184 and 186 may have the distances in the horizontal direction from thecenter of the channel 270 that vary along the first direction.

FIGS. 5 to 29 are cross-sectional views illustrating various stages ofan embodiment of a method for manufacturing a vertical memory device,e.g., the vertical memory devices in FIGS. 1 to 4. FIGS. 5 to 29 arecross-sectional views along section line A-A′ in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, an insulating interlayer 110 and a sacrificiallayer 120 may be alternately and repeatedly formed on a substrate 100.Thus, a plurality of insulating interlayers 110 and a plurality ofsacrificial layers 120 may be alternately stacked on each other over thesubstrate 100 in the first direction. For purposes of illustration,eight insulating interlayers 110 and seven sacrificial layers 120 areshown alternately stacked on the substrate 100. A different number ofinsulating interlayers 110 and sacrificial layers 120 may be alternatelystacked in another embodiment.

The substrate 100 may include a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon,germanium, silicon-germanium, etc.) or Group III-V semiconductorcompounds, e.g., GaP, GaAs, GaSb, etc. In some embodiments, thesubstrate 100 may be a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate or agermanium-on-insulator (GOI) substrate.

The insulating interlayers 110 and the sacrificial layers 120 may beformed by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a plasma chemicalvapor deposition (PECVD) process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD)process, etc. In an example embodiment, a lowermost one of theinsulating interlayers 110, directly formed on a top surface of thesubstrate 100, may be formed by a thermal oxidation process.

The insulating interlayers 110 may be formed of a silicon oxide, e.g.,plasma enhanced tetraethylorthosilicate (PE-TEOS), high density plasma(HDP) oxide, plasma enhanced oxide (PEOX), etc. The sacrificial layers120 may be formed of a material having a predetermined etchingselectivity with respect to the insulation layers 110, e.g., siliconnitride.

The insulating interlayers 110 may be formed to have differentthicknesses in the first direction at predetermined levels. For example,a lowermost one of the insulating interlayers 110 from the top surfaceof the substrate 100 may have a fourth thickness T4, a second one of theinsulating interlayers 110 from the top surface of the substrate 100 mayhave a third thickness T3, an uppermost one of the insulatinginterlayers 110 from the top surface of the substrate 100 may have asecond thickness T2, and other intermediate ones of the insulatinginterlayers 110 from the top surface of the substrate 100 may have afirst thickness T1. In example embodiments, the fourth thickness T4 maybe less than the first to third thicknesses T1, T2, and T3, the firstthickness T1 may be less than the second and third thicknesses T2 andT3, and the second and third thicknesses T2 and T3 may be equal to ordifferent from each other.

In one embodiment, the lowermost one of the insulating interlayers 110from the top surface of the substrate 100 may have the fourth thicknessT4, a third one of the insulating interlayers 110 from the top surfaceof the substrate 100 may have the third thickness T3, the uppermost oneof the insulating interlayers 110 from the top surface of the substrate100 may have the second thickness T2, and the second one and otherintermediate ones of the insulating interlayers 110 from the top surfaceof the substrate 100 may have the first thickness T1.

Referring to FIG. 6, a first mask 130 may be formed on an uppermost oneof the insulating interlayers 110. The insulating interlayers 110 andthe sacrificial layers 120 may be etched, using the first mask 130 as anetching mask, to form a channel hole 140 therethrough exposing a topsurface of the substrate 100.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 showing the layout of a channel 270 (e.g.,refer to FIG. 23) formed in the channel hole 140, a plurality of channelholes 140 may be formed both in the second and third directions todefine a channel hole array. In example embodiments, the channel holearray may include a first channel hole column including a plurality offirst channel holes in the second direction, and a second channel holecolumn including a plurality of second channel holes in the seconddirection, which may be spaced apart from the first channel hole columnin the third direction. The first channel holes may be at acute anglesfrom the second channel holes in the second or third directions. Thus,the first and second channel holes may be arranged in a zigzag layout inthe second direction, so as to be densely formed per unit area.

The first and second channel hole columns may be disposed alternatelyand repeatedly in the third direction. In example embodiments, the firstand second channel hole columns may be disposed in the third directiontwice to form a channel hole block. A plurality of channel hole blocksmay be formed in the third direction to be spaced apart from each other.Four channel hole columns in each channel hole block may be referred toas first, second, third, and fourth channel hole columns, in this order.For example, FIG. 1 illustrates two channel hole blocks spaced apartfrom each other in the third direction and portions of other two channelhole blocks. Each channel hole block includes the first, second, third,and fourth channel hole columns in the third direction.

The channel hole 140 may have, for example, a circular shape in a planview. In another embodiment, the channel hole 140 may have a differentshape, e.g., an ellipse, a rectangle, a square, etc., in a plan view.

Referring to FIG. 7, a first semiconductor pattern 150 may be formed topartially fill each channel hole 140. For example, a selective epitaxialgrowth (SEG) process may be performed, using the exposed top surface ofthe substrate 100 as a seed, to form the first semiconductor pattern 150partially filling each of the channel holes 140. Thus, the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 may include single crystalline silicon orsingle crystalline germanium according to the material of the substrate100, and in some cases impurities may be doped thereinto.

In one embodiment, an amorphous silicon layer may be formed to fill thechannel holes 140. A laser epitaxial growth (LEG) process or a solidphase epitaxy (SPE) process may be performed on the amorphous siliconlayer to form the first semiconductor pattern 150.

In example embodiments, the first semiconductor pattern 150 may beformed such that an upper surface of the first semiconductor pattern 150may be between the top and bottom of a second one of the insulatinginterlayers 110 disposed at a second level from the top surface of thesubstrate 100 in the first direction. The first semiconductor pattern150 may serve as a channel corresponding to the channel 270 subsequentlyformed (e.g., refer to FIG. 23), and thus may be referred to as a lowerchannel.

Referring to FIG. 8, portions of the insulating interlayers 110 exposedby the channel holes 140 may be partially removed to form first, second,and third recesses 160, 165, and 167. In example embodiments, the firstto third recesses 160, 165, and 167 may be formed by a dry etchingprocess or a wet etching process.

Each of the first to third recesses 160, 165, and 167 may be formed bypartially removing the insulating interlayers 110, and may have a depthD in the horizontal direction, e.g., in the second direction or in thethird direction. The first, second, and third recesses 160, 165, and 167may have first, second, and third widths W1, W2, and W3 in the firstdirection substantially perpendicular to the top surface of thesubstrate 100.

In example embodiments, the first and second recesses 160 and 165 havingthe first and second widths W1 and W2, respectively, may be formed inones of the insulating interlayers 110 having the first and secondthicknesses T1 and T2, respectively, which may be substantially the sameas the first and second widths W1 and W2. The third recess 167 havingthe third width W3 may be formed in one of the insulating interlayers110 having the third thickness T3, which may be greater than the thirdwidth W3. No recess may be formed in one of the insulating interlayers110 having the fourth thickness T4. For example, no recess may be formedin a lowermost one of the insulating interlayers 110 covered by thefirst semiconductor pattern 150 at a lower portion of the channel hole140. The third recess 167 having the third width W3 less than the thirdthickness T3 may be formed in a second one of the insulating interlayers110 from the top surface of the substrate 100 partially covered by thefirst semiconductor pattern 150.

Referring to FIG. 9, a first blocking layer 170 and a charge trappinglayer 180 may be sequentially formed on a sidewall of the channel hole140, inner walls of the first to third recesses 160, 165 and 167, theupper surface of the first semiconductor pattern 150, and an uppersurface of the first mask 130. The first blocking layer 170 may beformed of an oxide (e.g., silicon oxide) and the charge trapping layer180 may be formed of a nitride, e.g., silicon nitride. In an exampleembodiment, the first blocking layer 170 may include a materialsubstantially the same as that of the insulating interlayer 110, andthus may be merged therewith.

The first blocking layer 170 and the charge trapping layer 180 may beformed to have fifth and sixth thicknesses T5 and T6, respectively. Inexample embodiments, the depth D of each of the first to third recesses160, 165, and 167 may be greater than at least the fifth thickness T5 ofthe first blocking layer 170. The first to third widths W1, W2, and W3of the respective first to third recesses 160, 165, and 167 may begreater than a sum of twice the fifth thickness T5 and the sixththickness T6. Thus, fourth, fifth, and sixth recesses 190, 195, and 197may be formed in the charge trapping layer 180 respectivelycorresponding to the first, second, and third recesses 160, 165, and 167in the insulating interlayers 110.

In example embodiments, the depth D of each of the first to thirdrecesses 160, 165, and 167 may be equal to or less than a sum of thefifth thickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6.

In example embodiments, the first width W1 of the first recess 160 maybe equal to or less than the sum of twice the fifth thickness T5 and thesixth thickness T6. Thus, the fourth recess 190 corresponding to thefirst recess 160 may have a width in the first direction that decreasesfrom an entrance toward a bottom thereof along the horizontal direction,e.g., along the second direction or the third direction. The first widthW1 may be equal to or less than the sum of twice the fifth thickness T5and the sixth thickness T6, which may mean that the one of the firstinsulating interlayers 110 in which the first recess 160 is formed mayhave the small first thickness T1. For example, the one of theinsulating interlayers 110 having the first thickness T1 may be thinlyformed. Thus, the whole thickness of the vertical memory device may bereduced.

The second width W2 of the second recess 165 may be greater than the sumof twice the fifth thickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6, and furtherbe greater than twice the sum of the fifth thickness T5 and the sixththickness T6. Thus, the fifth recess 195 corresponding to the secondrecess 165 may have a width in the first direction nearly constant froman entrance toward a bottom thereof along the horizontal direction,e.g., along the second direction or the third direction. The width inthe first direction of the fifth recess 195 may be greater than thewidth in the first direction of fourth recess 190.

The third width W3 of the third recess 167 may be greater than the sumof twice the fifth thickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6, and furtherbe greater than twice the sum of the fifth thickness T5 and the sixththickness T6. Thus, the sixth recess 197 corresponding to the thirdrecess 167 may have a width in the first direction nearly constant froman entrance toward a bottom thereof along the horizontal direction,e.g., along the second direction or the third direction. The width inthe first direction of the sixth recess 197 may be greater than thewidth in the first direction of the fourth recess 190. According to theshape of the first semiconductor pattern 150 close (e.g., adjacent) tothe third recess 167, the sixth recess 197 may have a shape partiallydifferent from that of the third recess 167.

Referring to FIG. 10, a second semiconductor layer 200 may be formed onthe charge trapping layer 180 to fill the fourth recess 190. The secondsemiconductor layer 200 may be formed of a semiconductor material (e.g.,silicon, germanium, etc.) and may be heavily doped with impurities. Inexample embodiments, the second semiconductor layer 200 may be dopedwith n-type impurities (e.g., phosphorus, arsenic, etc.) at a dopingconcentration of more than about 1×10²⁰ cm⁻³.

In example embodiments, the second semiconductor layer 200 maysufficiently fill the fourth recess 190, but may not sufficiently fillthe fifth and sixth recesses 195 and 197 and may be conformally formedthereon. Thus, the fifth and sixth recesses 195 and 197 may at leastpartially remain.

Referring to FIG. 11, the second semiconductor layer 200 doped withimpurities may be partially oxidized to form a semiconductor oxide layer204. A portion of the second semiconductor layer 200 not oxidized mayremain as a second semiconductor pattern 202.

In example embodiments, the oxidation process may be performed from anouter sidewall of the second semiconductor layer 200. Thus, a portion ofthe second semiconductor layer 200 relatively far from the outersidewall of the second semiconductor layer 200 (e.g., a portion of thesecond semiconductor layer filling the fourth recess 190) may not beoxidized. Thus, the second semiconductor pattern 202 may fill the fourthrecess 190 and may have a ring shape.

Referring to FIG. 12, the semiconductor oxide layer 204 may be removedto expose the charge trapping layer 180, and the second semiconductorpattern 202 doped with impurities may remain. In example embodiments,the semiconductor oxide layer 204 may be removed by a wet etchingprocess. As the semiconductor oxide layer 204 is removed, the fifth andsixth recesses 195 and 197 partially filled with the semiconductor oxidelayer 204 may have their original shapes. Unlike in FIGS. 11 and 12, anetch-back process may be performed on the second semiconductor layer 200doped with impurities to form the second semiconductor pattern 202filling the fourth recess 190.

Referring to FIG. 13, a third semiconductor layer 210 may be formed onthe exposed charge trapping layer 180 and the second semiconductorpattern 202. In example embodiments, the third semiconductor layer 210may be formed of a semiconductor material (e.g., silicon, germanium,etc.) and may not be doped with impurities.

A heat treatment process, e.g., a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) processmay be performed so that the impurities doped in the secondsemiconductor pattern 202 diffuse into a portion of the thirdsemiconductor layer 210. Thus, a third semiconductor pattern 212 dopedwith impurities may be formed. The second semiconductor pattern 202 maybe heavily doped with impurities. Thus, the impurities may be easilydiffused into the third semiconductor layer 210 by the heat treatmentprocess.

In example embodiments, the impurities may be diffused into a portion ofthe third semiconductor layer 210 close (e.g., adjacent) to the secondsemiconductor pattern 202 in the horizontal direction, e.g., in thesecond direction or in the third direction. Thus, the thirdsemiconductor pattern 212 may have a ring shape. In an exampleembodiment, the third semiconductor pattern 212 having a ring shape mayhave a thickness in the first direction that is constant from an outersidewall toward an inner sidewall thereof. In one embodiment, therecesses may be filled with an n+ silicon layer, an undoped siliconlayer on the n+ silicon layer, and impurities may be diffused into theundoped silicon layer by a heat treatment process. The doped siliconlayer may be removed to leave a silicon mask.

Referring to FIG. 14, in another embodiment, the thickness in the firstdirection of the third semiconductor pattern 212 may gradually decreasefrom the outer sidewall toward the inner sidewall thereof. For example,the distance between an outer boundary of the third semiconductorpattern 212 and the second semiconductor pattern 202 may be nearlyconstant. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, only the thirdsemiconductor pattern 212 in FIG. 13 will be illustrated.

Referring to FIG. 15, the second and third semiconductor patterns 202and 212 may be removed to form first openings 220 partially exposing thecharge trapping layer 180. In example embodiments, the second and thirdsemiconductor patterns 202 and 212 may be removed by a wet etchingprocess or a dry etching process. Each of the second and thirdsemiconductor patterns 202 and 212 are heavily doped with n-typeimpurities, and thus may have a high etching selectivity with respect tothe third semiconductor layer 210 not doped with impurities, so as to beeasily removed by the etching process.

The second semiconductor pattern 202 may fill the fourth recess 190, andthus each of the first openings 220, which may be formed by removing thesecond semiconductor pattern 202 and the third semiconductor pattern 212thereon, may expose a portion of the charge trapping layer 180 close(e.g., adjacent) to a bottom of the fourth recess 190.

Referring to FIG. 16, the exposed portions of the charge trapping layer180 by the first openings 220 may be removed to form a charge trappingpattern structure including first, second, and third charge trappingpatterns 182, 184, and 186 spaced apart from each other in the firstdirection. When the charge trapping pattern structure is formed, thefirst openings 220 may be enlarged. The enlarged first openings 220 maypartially expose the first blocking layer 170.

In example embodiments, the charge trapping layer 180 may be partiallyremoved by a wet etching process or a dry etching process. In order todivide the first to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186from each other, a portion of the first blocking layer 170 under thecharge trapping layer 180 may be also partially etched.

The first charge trapping pattern 182 may be formed close (e.g.,adjacent) to a sidewall of the sacrificial layer 120 in the horizontaldirection, e.g., in the second or third direction. A plurality of firstcharge trapping patterns 182 may be formed to be spaced apart from eachother in the first direction. In example embodiments, the distancebetween the first charge trapping pattern 182 and a center of thechannel hole 140 in the horizontal direction (e.g., in the second orthird direction) may be constant in the first direction.

The second charge trapping pattern 184 may be close (e.g., adjacent) tothe sidewall of the sacrificial layer 120 in the horizontal direction(e.g., in the second or third direction), and further may extend in thefirst direction along a sidewall of the insulating interlayer 110. Inexample embodiments, the second charge trapping pattern 184 may be close(e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of the sacrificial layer 120 in thehorizontal direction, and may extend in the first direction along asidewall of a portion of the first blocking layer 170 on a sidewall ofan uppermost one of the insulating interlayers 110. Further, the secondcharge trapping pattern 184 may cover a portion of the first blockinglayer 170 on a sidewall and an upper surface of the first mask 130.

Thus, the distance between the second charge trapping pattern 184 and acenter of the channel hole 140 in the horizontal direction (e.g., in thesecond or third direction) may vary along the first direction. Thedistance between a portion of the second charge trapping pattern 184close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of the sacrificial layer 120 andthe center of the channel hole 140 in the horizontal direction may beless than a distance between a portion of the second charge trappingpattern 184 close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of the uppermost oneof the insulating interlayers 110 and the center of the channel 270 inthe horizontal direction.

The third charge trapping pattern 186 may be close (e.g., adjacent) tothe sidewall of the sacrificial layer 120 in the horizontal direction(e.g., in the second direction or in the third direction), and mayextend in the first direction along a sidewall of a portion of the firstblocking layer 170 on a sidewall of a second one of the insulatinginterlayers 110 from the top surface of the substrate 100. Further, thethird charge trapping pattern 186 may cover a portion of the firstblocking layer 170 on the upper surface of the first semiconductorpattern 150. Thus, the distance between the third charge trappingpattern 186 and, a center of the channel hole 140 in the horizontaldirection (e.g., in the second or third direction) may vary in the firstdirection.

Referring to FIG. 17, the third semiconductor layer 210 may be removedto expose the first to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186.A first filling layer 230 may be formed on the exposed first to thirdcharge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 and on the portions of thefirst blocking layer 170 exposed by the first openings 220. In exampleembodiments, the third semiconductor layer 210 may be removed by a wetetching process.

The first filling layer 230 may be formed, e.g., of silicon oxide. In anexample embodiment, the first filling layer 230 may include a materialsubstantially the same as that of the first blocking layer 170, forexample, so that they may be merged. In example embodiments, the firstfilling layer 230 may sufficiently fill the enlarged first openings 220,but may not sufficiently fill the fifth and sixth recesses 195 and 197.Thus, the first filling layer 230 may be conformally formed on the fifthand sixth recesses 195 and 197.

Referring to FIG. 18, an air gap 235 may be formed in the first fillinglayer 230.

Referring to FIG. 19, an etch-back process may be performed on the firstfilling layer 230 to form first filling patterns 232 filling theenlarged first openings 220, respectively. In example embodiments, thefirst to third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 may be exposedby the etch-back process. Each of the first filling patterns 232 maycompletely or partially fill each of the first openings 220. Thedistance between each of the first filling patterns 232 and the centerof the channel hole 140 may be equal to or greater than a distancebetween each of the first charge trapping patterns 182 and the center ofthe channel hole 140.

Each of the first filling patterns 232 may fill at least partially eachof the first openings 220 and may have a ring shape. Each of the firstfilling patterns 232 may include a lower portion, a central portion, andan upper portion sequentially stacked in the first direction. Thethickness of the central portion in the horizontal direction may begreater than that of the lower portion or the upper portion in thehorizontal direction. The central portion of each of the first fillingpatterns 232 may contact and be covered by the first blocking layer 170.The lower portion or the upper portion of each of the first fillingpatterns 232 may contact the first blocking layer 170 and the first tothird charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186, and may be covered bythe first blocking layer 170 and the first to third charge trappingpatterns 182, 184, and 186.

As the etch-back process is performed, portions of the first fillinglayer 230 on the fifth and sixth recesses 195 and 197 may be removed.Thus, the fifth and sixth recesses 195 and 197 may have, for example,their original shapes.

FIG. 20 illustrates the embodiment in which the air gap 235 is formed inthe first filling layer 230. The air gap 235 still remains in the firstfilling pattern 232 after the etch-back process.

Referring to FIG. 21, a tunnel insulation layer 240 and a first spacerlayer 250 may be sequentially formed on the first to third chargetrapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 and the first filling patterns 232.The tunnel insulation layer 240 may be formed of (e.g., silicon oxide).The first spacer layer 250 may be formed of, e.g., silicon nitride.

Referring to FIG. 22, the first spacer layer 250 may be anisotropicallyetched to form a first spacer 255 on a sidewall of the channel hole 140and to expose the tunnel insulation layer 240. The tunnel insulationlayer 240, the second and third charge trapping patterns 184 and 186,and the first blocking layer 170 may be etched using the first spacerlayer 255 as an etching mask. Thus, portions of the tunnel insulationlayer 240, the third charge trapping pattern 186 and the first blockinglayer 170 on the first semiconductor pattern 150, and portions of thetunnel insulation layer 240, the second charge trapping pattern 184 andthe first blocking layer 170 on the first mask 130 may be removed.Further, an upper portion of the first semiconductor pattern 150 may bepartially etched.

By the etching process, the tunnel insulation layer 240 may betransformed into a tunnel insulation pattern 245, and the first blockinglayer 170 may be transformed into a first blocking pattern 175. Each ofthe tunnel insulation pattern 245, the third charge trapping pattern186, and the first blocking pattern 175 may have a cup-like shape havingan open central bottom portion. Each of the first and second chargetrapping patterns 182 and 184 may have a ring shape.

The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the charge trapping patternstructure, and the first blocking pattern 175 may form a charge storagepattern structure. The charge trapping pattern structure may include thefirst, second, and third charge trapping patterns 182, 184, and 186spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

Referring to FIG. 23, after the first spacer 255 may be removed toexpose the tunnel insulation pattern 245, a channel layer may be formedon the exposed tunnel insulation pattern 245, the first semiconductorpattern 150 and the first mask 130, and a second filling layer may beformed on the channel layer to sufficiently fill remaining portions ofthe channel holes 140.

The channel layer may be formed, for example, of doped or undopedpolysilicon or amorphous silicon. When the channel layer includesamorphous silicon, a laser epitaxial growth (LEG) process or a solidphase epitaxy (SPE) process may be performed to convert the amorphoussilicon to crystalline silicon. The second filling layer may be formedof an oxide, e.g., silicon oxide.

The second filling layer and the channel layer may be planarized untilan upper surface of the first mask 130 is exposed to form a secondfilling pattern 280 filling a remaining portion of each of the channelholes 140, and the channel layer may be transformed into a channel 270.

Thus, the charge storage pattern structure, the channel 270, and thesecond filling pattern 280 may be sequentially stacked on the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 in each of the channel holes 140. The chargestorage pattern structure may have a cup-like shape with an open centralbottom portion, the channel 270 may have a cup-like shape, and thesecond filling pattern 280 may have a pillar shape.

As the channel holes 140 may define a channel hole block including thefirst to fourth channel hole columns with the channel hole arrayincluding a plurality of channel hole blocks, the channels 270 may alsodefine a channel block and a channel array (e.g., refer to FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 24, an upper portion of a first structure includingthe second filling pattern 280, the channel 270, and the charge storagepattern structure may be removed to form a trench. A capping pattern 290may fill the trench. For example, the upper portion of the firststructure may be removed by an etch-back process to form the trench, acapping layer may be formed on the first structure and the first mask130 to fill the trench, and an upper portion of the capping layer may beplanarized until the upper surface of the first mask 130 is exposed toform the capping pattern 290.

In example embodiments, the capping layer may be formed, for example, ofundoped or doped polysilicon or amorphous silicon. When the cappinglayer includes amorphous silicon, a crystallization process may beperformed. The first structure, the first semiconductor pattern 150, andthe capping pattern 290 in each of the channel holes 140 may define asecond structure.

Referring to FIG. 25, after forming a second mask 300 on the first mask130 and the capping pattern 290, a second opening 310 may be formedthrough the first and second masks 130 and 300, the insulatinginterlayers 110, and the sacrificial layers 120 to expose a top surfaceof the substrate 100.

In example embodiments, the second opening 310 may extend in the seconddirection between the channel blocks, and a plurality of second openings310 may be formed in the third direction. Thus, four channel columns maybe formed between neighboring two second openings 310. In anotherembodiment, a different number of channel columns may be in each of thechannel blocks, and a different number of the channel columns may beformed between the neighboring ones of the second openings 310.

As the second opening 310 is formed, the insulating interlayer 110 maybe transformed to an insulating interlayer pattern 115 and thesacrificial layer 120 may be transformed to a sacrificial pattern.

The sacrificial patterns exposed by the second openings 310 may beremoved to form a gap 320 between the insulating interlayer patterns 115at the respective neighboring levels. A portion of an outer sidewall ofthe first blocking pattern 175 and a portion of a sidewall of the firstsemiconductor pattern 150 may be exposed by the gap 320. In exampleembodiments, the sacrificial patterns exposed by the second openings 310may be removed, for example, by a wet etch process using an etchsolution including phosphoric acid and/or sulfuric acid.

Referring to FIG. 26, a second blocking layer 330 may be formed on theexposed portion of the outer sidewall of the first blocking pattern 175,the exposed portion of the sidewall of the first semiconductor pattern150, an inner wall of the gap 320, surfaces of the insulating interlayerpatterns 115, the exposed top surface of the substrate 100, and an uppersurface of the second mask 300, a gate barrier layer 340 may be formedon the second blocking layer 330, and a gate conductive layer 350 may beformed on the gate barrier layer 340 to fill a remaining portion of thegap 320.

The second blocking layer 330 may be formed of a metal oxide, e.g.,aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum aluminumoxide, lanthanum hafnium oxide, hafnium aluminum oxide, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide and/or zirconium oxide. The gate conductive layer 350 maybe formed of a metal having a low resistance, e.g., tungsten, titanium,tantalum, platinum, etc., and the gate barrier layer 340 may be formedof a metal nitride, e.g., titanium nitride, tantalum nitride, etc. Inone embodiment, the gate barrier layer 340 may be formed to include ametal layer and a metal nitride layer sequentially stacked.

Referring to FIG. 27, the gate conductive layer 350 and the gate barrierlayer 340 may be partially removed to form a gate conductive pattern anda gate barrier pattern, respectively, in the gap 320, which may form agate electrode. In example embodiments, the gate conductive layer 350and the gate barrier layer 340 may be partially removed by a wet etchingprocess.

In example embodiments, the gate electrode may be formed to extend inthe second direction, and a plurality of gate electrodes may be formedin the third direction. For example, a plurality of gate electrodes mayextend in the second direction and may be spaced apart from each otherby the second opening 310.

In example embodiments, the gate electrode may include first, second,and third gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367 sequentially stacked in thefirst direction. The first gate electrode 363 may serve as a GSL. Thesecond gate electrode 365 may serve as a word line. The third gateelectrode 367 may serve as an SSL. Each of the first to third gateelectrodes 363, 365, and 367 may be formed at one or a plurality oflevels. One or more dummy word lines may be formed between the first andsecond gate electrodes 363 and 365 and/or between the second and thirdgate electrodes 365 and 367.

In example embodiments, the first gate electrode 363 may be formed at alowermost level, the third gate electrode 367 may be formed at anuppermost level and a closet level to the uppermost level thereunder,and the second gate electrode 365 may be formed at even numbers oflevels between the first and third gate electrodes 363 and 365. Thus,the first gate electrode 363 may be formed adjacent to the firstsemiconductor patterns 150, and each of the second and third gateelectrodes 365 and 367 may be formed adjacent to the channel 270.

The first gate electrode 363 may include a first gate conductive pattern353, and a first gate barrier pattern 343 covering a top, a bottom, anda sidewall of the first gate conductive pattern 353. The second gateelectrode 365 may include a second gate conductive pattern 355, and asecond gate barrier pattern 345 covering a top, a bottom, and a sidewallof the second gate conductive pattern 355. The third gate electrode 367may include a third gate conductive pattern 357, and a third gatebarrier pattern 347 covering a top, a bottom, and a sidewall of thethird gate conductive pattern 357.

Referring to FIG. 28, impurities may be implanted into the exposed topsurface of the substrate 100 to form an impurity region 105. In exampleembodiments, the impurities may include n-type impurities, for example,phosphorus and/or arsenic.

A second spacer layer may be formed on an upper surface of the impurityregion 105, a sidewall of the second opening 310, and an upper surfaceof the second mask 300. The second spacer layer may be anisotropicallyetched to form a second spacer 370 on the sidewall of the second opening310. Accordingly, the impurity region 105 at an upper portion of thesubstrate 100 may be partially exposed. The second spacer layer may beformed of an oxide, e.g., silicon oxide.

Referring to FIG. 29, a conductive layer may be formed on the exposedimpurity region 105, the second spacer 370, and the second mask 300 tofill the second opening 310. The conductive layer may be planarizeduntil the upper surface of the second mask 300 is exposed to form acommon source line (CSL) 380. A portion of the second blocking layer 330on the upper surface of the second mask 300 may be also removed. Theconductive layer may be formed, for example, of a metal, a metalnitride, and/or a metal silicide.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first upper insulating interlayer390 may be formed on the second mask 200, the CSL 380, the second spacer370 and the second blocking layer 330. Also, a contact plug 400 may beformed through the first upper insulating interlayer 390 and the secondmask 300 to contact an upper surface of the capping pattern 290.

A second upper insulating interlayer 410 may be formed on the firstupper insulating interlayer 390 and the contact plug 400. A bit line 420may be formed through the second upper insulating interlayer 410 tocontact an upper surface of the contact plug 400. Thus, the verticalmemory device may be manufactured.

The first and second upper insulating interlayers 390 and 410 may beformed of an oxide (e.g., silicon oxide). The contact plug 400 and thebit line 420 may be formed of a metal, e.g., copper, aluminum, tungsten,titanium, tantalum, etc., and/or a metal nitride, e.g., titaniumnitride, tantalum nitride, tungsten nitride, etc. In exampleembodiments, the bit line 420 may extend in the third direction, and aplurality of bit lines 420 may be formed in the second direction.

FIG. 30 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical memory device,which may be substantially the same as or similar to the embodiments ofFIGS. 1 to 4 except for the second blocking layer. Referring to FIG. 30,the vertical memory device may include a second blocking pattern 335instead of the second blocking layer 330 in FIGS. 1 to 4. The secondblocking pattern 335 may cover a top, a bottom, and a sidewall close tothe channel 270 of each of the first to third gate electrodes 363, 365,and 367. However, the second blocking pattern 335 may not cover thesidewalls of the insulating interlayer patterns 115, the sidewalls ofthe first and second masks 130 and 300, and the top surface of thesubstrate 100. Thus, a plurality of second blocking patterns 335 may beformed at a plurality of levels at which the first to third gateelectrodes 363, 365, and 367 are formed and may be spaced apart fromeach other.

FIGS. 31 to 33 illustrate various stages of an embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing the vertical memory device shown in FIG. 30. First,processes substantially the same as or similar to those illustrated withreference to FIGS. 5 to 26 may be performed.

Referring to FIG. 31, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose illustrated with reference to FIG. 27 may be performed. Forexample, the gate conductive layer 350 and the gate barrier layer 340may be partially removed to form a gate conductive pattern and a gatebarrier pattern, respectively, in the gap 320, which may form a gateelectrode. The gate electrode may include the first to third gateelectrodes 363, 365, and 367 sequentially stacked in the firstdirection.

In example embodiments, the gate conductive layer 350 and the gatebarrier layer 340 may be partially removed by a dry etching process. Inthe dry etching process, portions of the second blocking layer 330 onthe sidewalls of the insulating interlayer patterns 115, the sidewall ofthe first mask 130, and the top surface of the substrate 100 may be alsoremoved. Thus, a second blocking pattern 335 covering a top, a bottom,and a sidewall of each of the first to third gate electrodes 363, 365,and 367 may be formed. A plurality of second blocking patterns 335 maybe formed to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

Referring to FIG. 32, portions of the first to third gate electrodes363, 365, and 367 close (e.g., adjacent) to the second opening 310 maybe removed by a wet etching process. The wet etching process may befurther performed so that the first to third gate electrodes 363, 365,and 367 at the respective levels may be sufficiently spaced apart fromeach other. In one embodiment, the wet etching process may be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 33, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIGS. 28 to 29 may be performed. Thus, impurities may beimplanted into an upper portion of the substrate 100 exposed by thesecond opening 310 to form an impurity region 105, a second spacer 370may be formed on a sidewall of the second opening 310, and a CSL 380 maybe formed on the impurity region 105 to fill a remaining portion of thesecond opening 310.

Referring again to FIG. 30, processes substantially the same as orsimilar to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 may be performed to complete thevertical memory device.

FIG. 34 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical memory device,which may be substantially the same as or similar to that in FIGS. 1 to4, except for the first semiconductor pattern, the channel, and thecharge storage pattern structure.

Referring to FIG. 34, the vertical memory device may not include thefirst semiconductor pattern 150 in FIGS. 1 to 4. Thus, the channel 270may have a cup-like shape contacting the top surface of the substrate100, and the charge storage pattern structure may have a cup-like shapewith an open central bottom. The charge storage pattern structure maycontact the top surface of the substrate 100 and may cover an outersidewall of the channel 270.

The charge storage pattern structure may include the tunnel insulationpattern 245, the charge trapping pattern structure, and the firstblocking pattern 175 sequentially stacked between the channel 270 andeach of the first to third gate electrodes 363, 365, and 367. The chargetrapping pattern structure may include the first to third chargetrapping patterns 182, 184, and 186 spaced apart from each other in thefirst direction. Each of the first to third charge trapping patterns182, 184, and 186 may directly contact the outer sidewall of the tunnelinsulation pattern 245.

A plurality of first charge trapping patterns 182 may be formed spacedapart from each other in the first direction. Each of the first chargetrapping patterns 182 may be close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall ofthe second gate electrode 365 or the sidewall of the third gateelectrode 367 in the horizontal direction. The second charge trappingpattern 184 may be close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of the thirdgate electrode 367 at the uppermost level in the horizontal direction.The second charge trapping pattern 184 may further extend in the firstdirection to be close (e.g., adjacent) to the sidewall of the uppermostone of the insulating interlayer patterns 115.

The third charge trapping pattern 186 may be close (e.g., adjacent) inthe horizontal direction to the sidewalls of the first and second gateelectrodes 363 and 365 at the first and second levels, respectively,from the top surface of the substrate 100. The third charge trappingpattern 186 may further extend in the first direction to be close (e.g.,adjacent) to the sidewalls of the first and second ones of theinsulating interlayer patterns 115 from the top surface of the substrate100, and may be formed on the top surface of the substrate 100.

In example embodiments, each of the first to third charge trappingpatterns 182, 184, and 186 may have the sixth thickness T6 in thehorizontal direction, which may be constant in the first direction.

In example embodiments, the tunnel insulation pattern 245, the secondcharge trapping pattern 184, the first blocking pattern 175 and thesecond blocking layer 330 sequentially stacked in the horizontaldirection may be formed between the channel 270 and the third gateelectrode 367 at the uppermost level. The tunnel insulation pattern 245,the third charge trapping pattern 186, the first blocking pattern 175,and the second blocking layer 330 sequentially stacked in the horizontaldirection may be formed between the channel 270 and the first gateelectrode 363 at the lowermost level or between the channel 270 and thesecond gate electrode 365 at the second level. The tunnel insulationpattern 245, the first charge trapping pattern 182, the first blockingpattern 175, and the second blocking layer 330 sequentially stacked inthe horizontal direction may be formed between the channel 270 and eachof the second gate electrodes 367 at other levels, respectively.

The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the second charge trapping pattern184, and the first blocking pattern 175 sequentially stacked in thehorizontal direction may be formed between the channel 270 and theuppermost one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 having thesecond thickness T2. The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the third chargetrapping pattern 186, and the first blocking pattern 175 sequentiallystacked in the horizontal direction may be formed between the channel270 and the first one of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 havingthe fourth thickness T4 or between the channel 270 and the second one ofthe insulating interlayer patterns 115 having the third thickness T3.The tunnel insulation pattern 245, the first filling pattern 232, andthe first blocking pattern 175 sequentially stacked in the horizontaldirection may be formed between the channel 270 and each of theintermediate ones of the insulating interlayer patterns 115 having thefirst thickness T1.

In example embodiments, the first thickness T1 of ones of the insulatinginterlayer patterns 115 may be equal to or less than twice the sum ofthe fifth thickness T5 of the first blocking pattern 175 and the sixththickness T6 of the charge trapping pattern structure. In exampleembodiments, the second thickness T2 or the third thickness T3 of one ofthe insulating interlayer patterns 115 may be greater than the sum oftwice the fifth thickness T5 of the first blocking pattern 175 and thesixth thickness T6 of the charge trapping pattern structure, and may begreater than twice the sum of the fifth thickness T5 and the sixththickness T6. However, the fourth thickness T4 of one of the insulatinginterlayer patterns 115 may be less than the sum of twice the fifththickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6.

FIGS. 35 to 36 illustrate various stages in an embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing the vertical memory device in FIG. 34. First,processes substantially the same as or similar to those in FIGS. 5 to 6may be performed.

Referring to FIG. 35, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIG. 8 may be performed. For example, the insulatinginterlayers 110 exposed by the channel hole 140 may be partially removedto form the first to third recesses 160, 165, 167, and a seventh recess169. In example embodiments, the first to third recesses 160, 165, and167 and the seventh recess 169 may be removed by a dry etching processor a wet etching process.

The first to third recesses 160, 165 and 167 and the seventh recess 169may be formed by partially removing the insulating interlayers 110, andmay have the depth D in the horizontal direction, e.g., in the second orthird direction. The first to third recesses 160, 165, and 167 may havethe first to third widths W1, W2, and W3, respectively. The seventhrecess 169 may have a fourth width W4 in the first direction.

In example embodiments, the first, second, third and seventh recesses160, 165, 167, and 169 may be formed on the insulating interlayers 110having the first, second, third, and fourth thicknesses T1, T2, T3, andT4, respectively, to have the first, second, third, and fourth widthsW1, W2, W3, and W4, which may be equal to the first, second, third, andfourth thicknesses T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 36, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIG. 9 may be performed. Thus, the first blocking layer 170 andthe first charge trapping layer 180 may be sequentially formed on thesidewall of the channel hole 140, the inner walls of the first, second,third, and seventh recesses 160, 165, 167, and 169, and the uppersurface of the first mask 130.

The first blocking layer 170 and the charge trapping layer 180 may beformed to have the fifth and sixth thicknesses T5 and T6. In exampleembodiments, the depth D of each of the first, second, third, andseventh recesses 160, 165, 167, and 169 may be greater than at least thefifth thickness T5 of the first blocking layer 170. Each of the first tothird widths W1, W2, and W3 may be greater than the sum of twice thefifth thickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6. Thus, the fourth, fifth,and sixth recesses 190, 195, and 197 may be formed in the chargetrapping layer 180 corresponding to the first, second, and thirdrecesses 160, 165, and 167, respectively, in the insulating interlayers110.

However, the fourth width W4 of the seventh recess 169 may be less thanthe sum of twice the fifth thickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6.Thus, a recess may be rarely formed in the charge trapping layer 180corresponding to the seventh recess 169 in the insulating interlayers110.

In example embodiments, the depth D of each of the first, second, third,and seventh recesses 160, 165, 167, and 169 may be equal to or less thanthe sum of the fifth thickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6.

In example embodiments, the first width W1 of the first recess 160 maybe equal to or less than the sum of twice the fifth thickness T5 and thesixth thickness T6. In example embodiments, each of the second and thirdwidths W2 and W3 of each of the second and third recesses 165 and 167may be greater than the sum of twice the fifth thickness T5 and thesixth thickness T6, and may be greater than twice the sum of the fifththickness T5 and the sixth thickness T6. Thus, each of the fifth andsixth recesses 195 and 197 corresponding to each of the second and thirdrecesses 165 and 167 may have a width in the first direction nearlyconstant from an entrance toward a bottom thereof along the horizontaldirection, e.g., along the second or third direction. The width in thefirst direction of each of the fifth and sixth recesses 195 and 197 maybe greater than the width in the first direction of the fourth recess190.

Referring again to FIG. 34, processes substantially the same as orsimilar to that in FIGS. 10 to 29 and FIGS. 1 to 4 may be performed tocomplete the vertical memory device.

FIGS. 37 and 38 illustrate another embodiment of a vertical memorydevice, which may be substantially the same as or similar to those inFIGS. 1 to 4 except for the first semiconductor pattern, the channel,and the charge storage pattern structure.

Referring to FIGS. 37 and 38, the vertical memory device may not includethe first semiconductor pattern 150 in FIGS. 1 to 4 and two neighboringchannels 270 may be connected to each other through a trench on thesubstrate 100. Thus, the charge storage pattern structures coveringouter sidewalls of the two neighboring channels 270 may also beconnected to each other. The third charge trapping pattern 186 in eachof the charge storage pattern structures may extend to an inner wall ofthe trench, and two neighboring third charge trapping patterns 186 maybe connected to each other.

FIGS. 39 to 42 illustrate various stages of an embodiment of a methodfor manufacturing the vertical memory device in FIGS. 37 and 38. FIGS.39 to 42 are cross-sectional views along a cutline B-B′ in FIG. 37.First, processes substantially the same as or similar to thoseillustrated with reference to FIG. 5 may be performed.

Referring to FIG. 39, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIG. 6 may be performed. For example, after forming the firstmask 130 on the uppermost one of the insulating interlayers 110, theinsulating interlayers 110 and the sacrificial layers 120 may be etchedusing the first mask 130 as an etching mask to form the channel holes140 therethrough, thereby exposing the top surface of the substrate 100.In example embodiments, an upper portion of the substrate 100 may bealso removed in the etching process to form a trench 145, andneighboring channel holes 140 may be in communication with each otherthrough the trench 145.

Referring to FIGS. 37 and 39 showing the layout of the channels 270 inthe channel holes 140, in an example embodiment, the second and fourthchannel hole columns in which the channels 270 in the second and fourthchannel columns 270 b and 270 d may be formed in communication with eachother, or the first and third channel hole columns in which the channels270 in the first and third channel columns 270 a and 270 c may be formedin communication with each other.

In one embodiment, the first and second channel hole columns, in whichthe channels 270 in the first and second channel columns 270 a and 270 bare formed, may be in communication with each other, or the third andfourth channel hole columns, in which the channels 270 in the third andfourth channel columns 270 c and 270 d are formed, may be incommunication with each other.

Referring to FIG. 40, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIG. 8 may be performed. For example, the insulatinginterlayers 110 exposed by the channel holes 140 may be partiallyremoved to form the first, second, third, and seventh recesses 160, 165,167, and 169. In example embodiments, the first, second, third, andseventh recesses 160, 165, 167, and 169 may be formed by a dry etchingprocess or a wet etching process. The first, second, third, and seventhrecesses 160, 165, 167, and 169 may be formed to have the first, second,third, and fourth widths W1, W2, W3, and W4, respectively, in the firstdirection.

Referring to FIG. 41, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIG. 9 may be performed. Thus, the first blocking layer 170 andthe charge trapping layer 180 may be sequentially formed on the sidewallof the channel hole 140, the inner walls of the first, second, third,and seventh recesses 160, 165, 167, and 169, the inner wall of trench145, and the upper surface of first mask 130.

Referring to FIG. 42, processes substantially the same as or similar tothose in FIGS. 10 to 23 may be performed.

Referring to FIGS. 37 and 38, processes substantially the same as orsimilar to those in FIGS. 24 to 29 and FIGS. 1 to 4 may be performed tocomplete the vertical memory device.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specificterms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. Theembodiments may be combined to form additional embodiments. In someinstances, as would be apparent to one of skill in the art as of thefiling of the present application, features, characteristics, and/orelements described in connection with a particular embodiment may beused singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/orelements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwiseindicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in theart that various changes in form and details may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the embodiments set forth in theclaims.

1. A vertical memory device, comprising: a plurality of insulating interlayer patterns on a substrate, the plurality of insulating interlayer patterns spaced apart from each other in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate; a plurality of gate electrodes between neighboring ones of the insulating interlayer patterns, respectively; a channel extending through the insulating interlayer patterns and the gate electrodes in the first direction on the substrate; and a charge storage pattern structure including a tunnel insulation pattern, a charge trapping pattern structure, and a blocking pattern sequentially stacked between the channel and each of the gate electrodes in a second direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate, wherein the charge trapping pattern structure includes a plurality of charge trapping patterns spaced apart from each other in the first direction, wherein the charge trapping patterns are adjacent to sidewalls of first gate electrodes, respectively, in the plurality of gate electrodes, and wherein a first charge trapping pattern of the plurality of charge trapping patterns extends in the first direction along a sidewall of a first insulating interlayer pattern of the plurality of insulating interlayer patterns.
 2. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the tunnel insulation pattern and the blocking pattern extends in the first direction along a sidewall of the channel and contacts the plurality of charge trapping patterns.
 3. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the blocking pattern is on the sidewalls of the first gate electrodes and portions of a top and a bottom of each of the first gate electrodes, and directly contacts sidewalls of the insulating interlayer patterns.
 4. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blocking pattern is on portions of the top and the bottom of each of the first gate electrodes relatively adjacent to the channel, and is not on portions of the top and the bottom of each of the first gate electrodes spaced from the channel.
 5. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a first filling pattern between the tunnel insulation pattern and the blocking pattern, wherein the first filling pattern contacts the tunnel insulation pattern and the blocking pattern.
 6. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first filling pattern is between the first gate electrodes.
 7. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first filling pattern is spaced from the sidewall of the first insulating interlayer pattern in the second direction.
 8. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first filling pattern is between the plurality of charge trapping patterns.
 9. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first filling pattern contacts a portion of a top surface or a portion of a bottom surface of each of the charge trapping patterns.
 10. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tunnel insulation pattern and the blocking pattern include substantially a same material, and the first filling pattern includes a material substantially equal to that of the tunnel insulation pattern and the blocking pattern, the first filling pattern merged to the tunnel insulation pattern and the blocking pattern.
 11. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first filling pattern includes an air gap.
 12. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tunnel insulation pattern, the first charge trapping pattern, and the blocking pattern are sequentially stacked between the sidewall of the channel and the sidewall of the first insulating interlayer pattern, each of the tunnel insulation pattern, the first charge trapping pattern, and the blocking pattern extending in the first direction.
 13. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gate electrodes include a second gate electrode, wherein a sidewall of the second gate electrode is spaced from the charge storage pattern structure in the second direction, and wherein the second gate electrode is a lowermost one of the gate electrodes. 14-28. (canceled)
 29. A vertical memory device, comprising: a plurality of gate electrodes on a substrate, the plurality of gate electrodes spaced apart from each other in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate; a plurality of insulating interlayer patterns between neighboring ones of the gate electrodes, respectively; a channel extending through the gate electrodes and the insulating interlayer patterns in the first direction on the substrate; a charge storage pattern structure including a tunnel insulation pattern, a charge trapping pattern, and a blocking pattern sequentially stacked between the channel and each of the gate electrodes in a second direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the substrate; and an insulation pattern structure between the channel and a sidewall of each of the insulating interlayer patterns, the insulation pattern structure including a first insulation pattern, a second insulation pattern, and a third insulation pattern sequentially stacked in the second direction and disposed only on portions of a top and a bottom of each of the gate electrodes adjacent to the channel.
 30. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first insulation pattern includes a material substantially equal that of the tunnel insulation pattern and is merged thereto, and the third insulation pattern includes a material substantially equal as that of the blocking pattern and is merged thereto. 31-68. (canceled)
 69. A vertical memory device, comprising: a channel; an alternating pattern of gate electrodes and insulating layers; and a charge storage pattern between the channel and sides of the gate electrodes and insulating layers, wherein the gate electrodes have a first width and a first thickness and the insulating layers have a second width less than the first width and a second thickness less than the first thickness and wherein the charge storage pattern extends into recesses adjacent to the sides of respective ones of the insulating layers.
 70. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 69, wherein each of the recesses has a width based on a difference between the first width and the second width.
 71. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 69, further comprising: a plurality of semiconductor patterns, wherein each of the semiconductor patterns is between the channel and a respective one of the recesses.
 72. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 71, wherein each of the semiconductor patterns may include an n+ silicon layer.
 73. The vertical memory device as claimed in claim 69, wherein the charge storage pattern includes a tunnel insulation pattern, a charge trapping pattern, and a blocking pattern. 